Social security for the self-employed | What you need to know

How does social security for the self-employed work?

Do you want to know more about social security for the self-employed? Since January 1, 2020, the social protection of the self-employed has been managed by the SSI, which replaced the RSI (Régime Social des Indépendants). The SSI is attached to the general social security system in order to simplify the management and monitoring of social protection. However, the SSI has many differences compared to the general system. That’s why this article gives you everything you need to know about the SSI: from how it works, to social security contributions, and affiliation to the SSI, so you won’t miss out on your self-employed social coverage.

Who is concerned by the SSI?

Two main conditions must be met to be affiliated with the SSI:

Have a professional, commercial or craft activity;
Have the status of non-salaried worker (TNS).

Affiliation to social security for the self-employed (SSI) or the general social security scheme depends on the legal form as well as the number of shares held by the manager in the company’s capital.

Here is a summary table to check which scheme applies to you:

Managers/Non-salaried Workers (TNS)	Affiliation Scheme
Micro-entrepreneur	SSI
Sole proprietor manager	SSI
Sole associate manager of an EURL	SSI
Majority manager of a SARL	SSI
Managers/associates of SNC	SSI
Minority/equal manager of SARL	General scheme
President and CEO of SAS	General scheme
Sole associate president of SASU	General scheme

Managers affiliated to the general scheme are considered assimilated employees and thus benefit from the same social protection as employees, with the only exception that they do not contribute to unemployment insurance.

Regarding freelancers under wage portage (the portage employee), they are considered as self-employed workers while still being employees. Their umbrella company provides them with full social protection, equivalent to that of a traditional employee.

💡Good to know: to remain independent but protected, start your wage portage journey with Weepo and access all the benefits of employee status (social protection, retirement, provident scheme, etc.).

To go further, check out our guide for choosing your professional status.

How does the SSI work?

Social security for the self-employed (SSI) ensures the social coverage of non-salaried workers. Its tasks are divided into three branches: the primary health insurance funds (CPAM), Pension insurance, and the URSSAF network.

The SSI is managed by the general social security scheme and covers the following mandatory social contributions:

Health/maternity insurance;
Basic and supplementary retirement;
Pension insurance;
Disability-death insurance;
Family allowances;
Vocational training;
CSG/CRDS contributions.

These contributions must be paid to the URSSAF.

💡Good to know: self-employed workers with low incomes can benefit from the supplementary health solidarity (C2S) or subscribe to a provident contract to complement their social protection.

Affiliation to SSI

Since January 1, 2020, affiliation to the SSI is automatic for all self-employed workers. This affiliation is carried out in 3 steps:

The declaration of activity start with the one-stop shop at INPI.
Waiting for the registration notification from the SSI (registration effective date = activity start date).
Managing your social coverage on the URSSAF website.

Also, discover our complete guide on URSSAF and wage portage.

How social contributions are calculated

SSI: Calculation basis

The amount of social security contributions under SSI is proportional to the income generated by the self-employed worker’s activity. They are calculated based on the income of the previous year (N-1), which leads to the collection of provisional contributions. Once the annual income declaration for year N is filed, the tax authorities readjust the calculation and proceed with a regularisation.

SSI: Applicable rates

The SSI applies specific contribution rates for each category (health, pension, etc.). The exact rates vary according to income and the nature of activity (craftsmen, merchants, professional professions, etc.). To see the up-to-date list of rates, go to the official URSSAF website, section "rates and scales".

Practical example of social contributions paid by a micro-entrepreneur:
Imagine a micro-entrepreneur providing a service activity. Their income is taxed under the “bénéfices non commerciaux” (BNC) regime.
Their social contribution rate is 24.6%.
In July 2025, they achieved €5,000 in revenue.
The amount of social security contributions due is therefore: €5,000 x 24.6% = €1,230.

=> They therefore owe €1,230 to URSSAF for the month of July 2025.

Paying social contributions

Since January 1, 2023, social contributions must be paid to the URSSAF for base pension, supplementary pension, and disability-death insurance.

Healthcare reimbursements

Healthcare reimbursements by SSI are conducted in the same way as under the general scheme. Benefits are paid to the self-employed worker by the CPAM in the event of work stoppage due to illness or accident. Likewise, maternity benefits are possible for self-employed women and collaborating spouses.

Pension contributions

The pension scheme for self-employed workers (TNS) depends on the nature of the activity performed:

For merchants and craftsmen: the retirement pension amount depends on the average annual income, contribution rate, and the total insured period under all social security schemes.
For professional professions: retirement is calculated according to the points accumulated and the total length of validated insurance.
For auto-entrepreneurs: pension contributions are deducted from the turnover.

💡Good to know: a micro-entrepreneur who declares zero turnover does not accrue pension rights.

The main points of the article summarized in 8 points

You now know how social security for the self-employed works. Here are the key takeaways:

To be affiliated to the SSI, you must carry out a professional activity (commercial, craft, etc.) and have non-salaried worker (TNS) status.
Affiliation to the SSI or the general scheme depends on the legal status of your company and the number of shares you own in its capital.
The SSI groups together CPAM, Pension Insurance, and the URSSAF network.
All self-employed workers have been automatically affiliated to the SSI since January 1, 2020.
The SSI is based on your professional income from the previous year (N-1) to calculate the amount of social contributions.
The social contribution rates of SSI vary according to the categories (health, pension, death, etc.), your professional income, and the nature of your activity.
Social contributions are paid to the URSSAF and reimbursement of healthcare expenses is processed the same as under the general scheme.
Pension contributions depend on the nature of the activity (craftsman-merchant, professional, micro-entrepreneur).